Drowning

Abstract

Drowning is one of the serious injuries that often has fatal consequences. For survival of drowning people, the earli-est possible initiation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation is crucial in order to ensure an adequate supply of oxygen to the body. This mainly concerns the brain tissue. The degree of neurological disability is decisive for the quality of life. This article provides a basic overview of the pathophysiology of drowning, emphasizes the need for early and prop-erly provided first aid, and provides an overview of the key points of intensive and resuscitation care for a drowning patient.